UConn holds off Iowa St 81-76 in Sweet 16 at MSG

UConn holds off Iowa St 81-76 in Sweet 16 at MSG

Iowa State's Dustin Hogue reacts after his team lost 81-76 to Connecticut in a regional semifinal of the NCAA men's basketball tournament Friday, March 28, 2014, in New York.

Iowa State's Dustin Hogue reacts after his team...

Photo by
Associated Press
/Times Free Press.

NEW YORK - DeAndre Daniels scored 27 points, 19 in the second half, and UConn held off Iowa State 81-76 on Friday to reach the East Regional final a year after the Huskies were barred from the NCAA tournament.

Daniels hit his first six shots after halftime, the only Husky to make a field goal for over 8½ minutes. His 3-pointer gave seventh-seeded UConn a 49-32 lead.

The Cyclones rallied late, pulling within 67-63 with 2½ minutes remaining. But senior Niels Giffey hit a 3 in the corner for his first points since the game's opening moments, and when the Huskies (29-8) made their free throws in the final minute, the UConn fans packing Madison Square Garden could celebrate.